Your message to New SEOs

To the budding SEO practionors, I say that SEO is not rocket science once you learn and experience the fundamental principles. Take the time to educate yourselves and ask questions.

Learn how to research. I spend a third of my work hours on researching the competition's pages. I do this to determine the most economical method to out-rank them and take their search market share.

Don't get caught up in the minute details.

I hate to be negative but if you don't know what you are doing then don't get into it!

I see too many new 'SEOs' posting on forums at the moment offering their services when they cannot even rank their own site for 'search engine optimization [small town]'.

Please do not offer your services unless you can actually do the job properly. Otherwise those who know what they are doing will have to come in and pick up the pieces.

I've been thinking over the past few months what I would do if I wanted to get into the world of SEO today.

The truth is, I'm not sure I would do it! Although the technology and knowledge behind doing the work is still not "rocket-science", it can be sufficiently complex to prevent someone starting as an SEO overnight.

We've all seen postings on forums where alleged SEOs ask (what to many of the more experienced appear to be) amazingly basic questions. Now, I know we all have to learn - but more than half a decade into this industry's development, I find it a little worrying that clients are being advised by SEOs who don't fully understand the basics.

The fact is that those of us who have been around for more than a couple of years, in the main, have gone through all the loops, tried many of the "tricks" and have a pretty good idea of what works where and how. We've tested the benefits and seen the downsides to most tools, tried various types of PPC, PFI and experimented with the demographics on various engines. What are our main conclusions? That rankings are not everything but the client getting increased revenue and sales is everything. Without that, no matter how good you are as an SEO you are going to have an unhappy client.

So, my advice to anyone embarking into this market now would be to try and leapfrog the people who have just downloaded the latest tool which hints that you can become an SEO overnight and start learning.

Learn the basics on SEO, which can be done by reading, researching and asking here. Then start learning about what makes a person buy from a website. Learn about ROI tracking tools, bid management services, how to get the most out of using AdWords - in short, learn the basics of being able to offer your potential clients a lot more than the usual "I can make you top for pink widgets in Witchita.." - but rounded advice on how your SEO/SEM campaign can assist them in not only attaining better search engine listings but higher conversions and more sales revenue.

Do that well (as time goes by, you will be better and better) and clients will remain with you and your success will be assured.

Bottom-line though, there is no short way to becoming a sucessful SEO overnight - there has been a lot of development in the search engine marketing channel and people are starting to look for SEO companies that can show they know their business. Learn the trade comprehensively and anyone can still do it, but just relying on optimising for a potential client's pet phrase isn't going to cut it for much longer - IMO!

[ Message was edited by: MakeMeTop 08/18/2004 06:29 am ]

I agree & have been thinking about this in light of where my best market niche will be in the years to come.

There must be some sort of reason that the SEO/SEM industry is calling to new folks.. maybe it looks easy? maybe there is so much noise that a sharp mind could just cut right in and become the best (over night)?

I do well with positioning and that is no problem, it is quite easy if you know how, but I tend to agree - for the long term - clients are going to appreciate solid help with true marketing background which doesn't just pump sales but helps them develop & exceed on their short term & long term business plan as well.

Clients are becoming jaded by SEO - traffic is great and sometimes it is "easy" - but it's not solid enough to really help presence and reputation.

Not to off track I hope.....

The SEO/SEM marketplace is full of cowboys who are after earning a quick buck but the same applies to lets say the building trade. For every bad egg there are hard working people as well.

Recently I have noticed a big increase in companies looking to recruit SEO/SEM specialist direct to look after there online interests in-house and not outsource anymore, with some paying very respectable salaries.

This could be a reflection on the poor reputation some of the less professional companies have drop on the rest of us over the years, I personal see it as a good indicated that the job of SEO/SEM is being to regarded as main stream job rather than the Dark Arts position of years ago, with Online budgets increasing year on year the future looks bright.

You never know when the kids are asked a school in a few years what they want to be when they grow up "I want to be an SEO Manager"

Don't set yourself up as yet another small guy if you have a chance of joining an established agency.

Is there a future in SEO? I think it's the same as web design was a few years back. Once there were ten a penny small web design companies. Now there are one man shows and international agencies. I think SEO will go the same way.

my advice is to read ever single post on this site! and ask lots of questions..people like "thejenn" and "unreviewed" are the most helpful and knowledge people on the web! and its all FREE!

> and its all FREE!

Actually it's not. These forums are based on a philosophy that, when you have learned stuff, you should help others in return. Jim's Law

Yeah, philh is right. It's a simple idea, but always an amazing thing to see when new members catch on to it.

That explains why most of the members either have 3000 to 15000 posts or have much less than 50.

Nice to see some "new regulars" with a few hundred or so. Heres hoping they stick around.